When I play MKV files via the official PS4 Plex app, the server transcodes the video. This is not good for me because I have Plex server running on a NAS which does not have the gruntiest CPU, so I get really bad buffering.
However, when I access my Plex library via DNLA in the native PS4 media player, Plex server direct streams the exact same files and so there is of course no buffering at all!!
So while I can watch MKV files on my PS4 without lag perfectly fine via the PS4 media player, I hate the (non)interface of the default player and would much rather be using the vastly superior Plex app.
Why is this happening?! Is there a way to direct stream these MKV files to the Plex app on PS4?
I have googled and googled and gone through every server setting with a fine tooth comb over and over, yet I cannot work this out.
Same server, same play device, DNLA direct streams, official Plex app transcodes - what am I doing wrong?
I had this issue too. What I did is go to Settings in the PS4 app then under video change the Maximum H.264 Level to 4.2. It also depends what level the video you’re playing is because if its higher than 5 it wont play it.
This is due to Sony’s unfortunate practice of not making all of the capabilities of the PS system available to application developers through the development platform. There have been previous responses to this effect from the developers.
Best bet to avoid transcoding is be aware of the media limitations of the Plex app on PlayStation which are documented here
There are a few other tweaks you can make (such as adjusting the Level setting in the PS app from the default 4.0) however this can cause other issues.
@bytcrs said:
I had this issue too. What I did is go to Settings in the PS4 app then under video change the Maximum H.264 Level to 4.2. It also depends what level the video you’re playing is because if its higher than 5 it wont play it.
Holy ■■■■, I could kiss you!
I changed max H.264 level from “4.1 (default)” to “none”, and now everything direct streams perfectly without any lag.
Can’t believe I was so stupid as to only look at server side settings rather than client side settings!!
No problem. I was going to tell you to set to “none”, but when you do some level 5 videos wont play, and at 4.2 level 5.0 will play, but PMS will transcode them.
I’m facing a similar problem. The file is a mkv file, with the following properties:
Video
Codec H264
Bitrate 1933 kbps
Language English
Bit Depth 8
CABAC 1
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Space yuv
Duration 41:59
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Frame Rate Mode cfr
Has Scaling Matrix 0
Height 720
Level 4.1
Profile high
Ref Frames 5
Scan Type progressive
Width 1280
I’ve set the Maximum H264 level to 4.1, 4.0, none. It doesn’t matter. PMS always keeps transcoding them. However, when I run Plex Home Theater, Plex for iOS etc, this isn’t the case. Can anyone show me some guidelines?
I’m facing a similar problem. The file is a mkv file, with the following properties:
Video
Codec H264
Bitrate 1933 kbps
Language English
Bit Depth 8
CABAC 1
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Space yuv
Duration 41:59
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Frame Rate Mode cfr
Has Scaling Matrix 0
Height 720
Level 4.1
Profile high
Ref Frames 5
Scan Type progressive
Width 1280
I’ve set the Maximum H264 level to 4.1, 4.0, none. It doesn’t matter. PMS always keeps transcoding them. However, when I run Plex Home Theater, Plex for iOS etc, this isn’t the case. Can anyone show me some guidelines?
With the maximum level set to 4.1 or higher that file should not transcode from what you have posted. Can you set the setting, restart the client and server, then try to play the file. If it still transcodes upload log files so we can havea look at what the issue may be?
Does the file have any subtitles? if it does it will transcode no matter the level of the file. It seems subtitles are not yet supported on the PS4 app.
I’m facing a similar problem. The file is a mkv file, with the following properties:
Video
Codec H264
Bitrate 1933 kbps
Language English
Bit Depth 8
CABAC 1
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Space yuv
Duration 41:59
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Frame Rate Mode cfr
Has Scaling Matrix 0
Height 720
Level 4.1
Profile high
Ref Frames 5
Scan Type progressive
Width 1280
I’ve set the Maximum H264 level to 4.1, 4.0, none. It doesn’t matter. PMS always keeps transcoding them. However, when I run Plex Home Theater, Plex for iOS etc, this isn’t the case. Can anyone show me some guidelines?
With the maximum level set to 4.1 or higher that file should not transcode from what you have posted. Can you set the setting, restart the client and server, then try to play the file. If it still transcodes upload log files so we can havea look at what the issue may be?
Tried setting it to 4.1; restarted both, and played a clean file in case it has cached it. But it still transcodes.
@bytcrs said:
Does the file have any subtitles? if it does it will transcode no matter the level of the file. It seems subtitles are not yet supported on the PS4 app.
Yes, all of the content I have has subtitles unfortunately. That sucks
I’m facing a similar problem. The file is a mkv file, with the following properties:
Video
Codec H264
Bitrate 1933 kbps
Language English
Bit Depth 8
CABAC 1
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Space yuv
Duration 41:59
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Frame Rate Mode cfr
Has Scaling Matrix 0
Height 720
Level 4.1
Profile high
Ref Frames 5
Scan Type progressive
Width 1280
I’ve set the Maximum H264 level to 4.1, 4.0, none. It doesn’t matter. PMS always keeps transcoding them. However, when I run Plex Home Theater, Plex for iOS etc, this isn’t the case. Can anyone show me some guidelines?
With the maximum level set to 4.1 or higher that file should not transcode from what you have posted. Can you set the setting, restart the client and server, then try to play the file. If it still transcodes upload log files so we can havea look at what the issue may be?
Tried setting it to 4.1; restarted both, and played a clean file in case it has cached it. But it still transcodes.
@bytcrs said:
Does the file have any subtitles? if it does it will transcode no matter the level of the file. It seems subtitles are not yet supported on the PS4 app.
Yes, all of the content I have has subtitles unfortunately. That sucks
That’s correct. The PS3/4 app requires transcoding for the subtitles to be embedded into the video stream. Perhaps a future update will solve this but for now…
Then I will buy another client to stream my content. Perhaps a Fire TV, Chromecast or something similar. I don’t want to end up spending 180 euro’s on Apple TV
I’ve been considering a Roku3 which is considerably cheaper than the AppleTV and supports HD as well as direct playing most formats of video in Plex due to the ongoing issues with PSN and the plex app for PS3.
@DavidIrwin said:
I’ve been considering a Roku3 which is considerably cheaper than the AppleTV and supports HD as well as direct playing most formats of video in Plex due to the ongoing issues with PSN and the plex app for PS3.
well if it means anything, i have both - a ps4 in the bedroom and roku 3 in the lounge. the roku has a MUCH higher waf. the apps are almost identical now, but as a dedicated streaming box i’d highly recommend the roku 3.
well if it means anything, i have both - a ps4 in the bedroom and roku 3 in the lounge. the roku has a MUCH higher waf. the apps are almost identical now, but as a dedicated streaming box i’d highly recommend the roku 3.
Thanks. Useful to know from someone who has seen both systems side by side. I have a PS3 so imagine your PS4 but with 3x more delay between each screen transition, and that only gets slower the longer you run the app for… :-L
Plex only have native support for MKV video encoded with H.264 (level 4.0 or lower) codec and AAC codec, but the MKV format supported by PS4 media player app are H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2 video codec and MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio codec, any content that is not natively supported will automatically transcoded as needed by the Plex Media Server. If you don’t want to use Plex to transcode the video, you can use a third-party program to convert MKV to PS4 for streaming via Plex.
